System and method for establishing a call telecommunications path

ABSTRACT

This invention provides a path establishment device and method for establishing a path for a telecommunications call. In a preferred embodiment, the path establishment device of this invention includes an originating call processor in communication with an originating telecommunications network and a packet-based telecommunications network, a terminating call processor in communication with the packet-based telecommunications network and a public telecommunications network, and means for establishing a communication path from the originating telecommunications network through the packet-based telecommunications network to a destination served by the public telecommunications network. The path establishment device and method of the present invention thus provides, among other advantages, for the use of a potentially less expensive packet-switched telecommunications network as a long distance carrier between two public switched telecommunications networks.

This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/659,677,filed Jun. 5, 1996.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the establishment of a path for atelecommunications call, and more particularly to the establishment of acall telecommunications path through a packet-based telecommunicationsnetwork interconnected with a public telecommunications network.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELEVANT ART

Since the invention of the telephone, the world has seen the steady andoften explosive growth of telecommunications networks.Telecommunications services throughout the world are linked to provideaccess from virtually any country to virtually any other country, withgovernments and private companies operating many telecommunicationsnetworks, both nationally and internationally. Some of thesetelecommunications networks are for the private use of the owning oroperating entity. Others are operated by common carriers or bytelecommunications service providers for use by the public or for use bya limited group of subscribers.

Telecommunications networks are not all alike. There are wide variationsin the speed at which information is transported over telecommunicationsnetworks and in the ways in which networks interconnect and interfacewith other networks. Because of such differences in speed, interfaces,and modes of operation, many telecommunications networks cannot beinterconnected with other telecommunications networks.

With the proliferation of telecommunications networks, it is notsurprising that some networks are more heavily used than others. Thecomplexities and difficulties involved in interconnecting networks,however, often prevent users of crowded and expensive telecommunicationsnetworks, for example, from switching to less crowded and less expensivetelecommunications networks.

An additional problem with the substitution of one telecommunicationsnetwork for another is that different networks may not provide serviceto or be readily accessible from the same geographic areas. Even if theservice areas of different networks overlap significantly, the potentialuser of an alternate telecommunications network must constantly keep inmind which areas can be reached from or by which network.

This coverage area problem is only one example of a larger problem facedby users of multiple telecommunications networks: the overall operatingenvironments, parameters, and instructions of different networks areoften very dissimilar. A user seeking to use multiple networks thus mayhave the additional burden of learning completely differenttelecommunications network operating systems.

The problems typically encountered today with multiple network use maybe illustrated by considering one of the most popular telecommunicationsservices, basic telephony. Despite considerable progress, publictelephone networks, and particularly international public telephonenetworks, are often expensive and sometimes unreliable. Individualconsumers and companies that do not have their own private internationaltelephone telecommunications systems, however, have few alternatives tothe use of these public networks. Even companies with their own privatetelecommunications systems for their internal use must bear the addedcosts of maintaining their switches and telecommunications facilities,and may in any event encounter significant problems in interconnectingwith public telecommunications systems.

Recently, a number of large capacity international telecommunicationsnetworks have been developed, primarily for the transport of data. Thesenetworks use frame-relay ("FR"), asynchronous transfer mode ("ATM") orother packet-based technologies. A packet-based network sends datathrough the network by breaking a large message into blocks or "packets"of limited size. Individual packets are then transmitted through thenetwork, and reassembled into the original large message at thedestination of the message. Thus, packets may not arrive at theirnetwork destination in the same order that they were sent.

Packet-based networks frequently have excess telecommunications capacitythat is available at relatively low cost. With appropriate techniques,packet-based networks may thus provide cost-effective alternatives topublic telephone networks for voice communications.

Unfortunately, use of packet-based networks for voice services and thelike confronts the interconnection and other problems described above.Packet-based networks typically are not built to interface with thepublic telephone networks, so interconnecting such disparate systemsrequires the resolution of several problems. For example, voicecommunications is a continuous and frequently an analog process.Packet-based systems, as noted above, typically communicate byexchanging discrete "packets" or blocks of digital data. Takingcontinuous analog voice as an example, the voice signal would have to beconverted to digital form and then split up into packets of appropriatesize for a packet-based network. These packets would then be sent overthe network. At the destination, the packets may not arrive in the orderthey were sent, and the amount of time it takes for each packet in amessage to travel through the network may vary substantially from thetravel time of other packets in the same message. Somehow, the packetshave to be collected at the destination and reassembled in the order inwhich they were sent. The digital voice signal contained in the packetswould then have to be converted back to analog. For voice transmission,this whole process would have to be done very quickly so that eachparticipant in a voice telephone conversation would not notice anyunusual time delays.

Fortunately, voice interfaces for packet-based systems have beenintroduced to convert between analog or digital voice and the digitalpackets. Voice interfaces for the packet-based Internet have alsorecently been made available. Companies with internal private branchexchange ("PBX") and packet-based networks have used these voiceinterfaces to provide limited telephone services over their internalpacket-based networks.

This solution, however, is limited to the relatively small number ofpoints served by the packet-based networks. At least in industrializedcountries, the vast majority of residents and businesses use telephoneservice provided by public telephone systems, at least for their longdistance domestic or international calls. Very few individuals orbusinesses are directly served by packet-based networks. The widespreadand practical use of the packet-based networks thus requires that theybe able to transport calls originating from public networks andterminating to public networks. To permit this mode of operation apacket-based network must interface directly with public telephonenetworks, and operate as a bridge between local public telephonenetworks on the originating and destination ends of a call.

Interfaces between a packet-based network and a public telephonenetwork, however, may require costly and complex modifications to thepublic telephone network, or modifications to the packet-based networkso that it mimics other, less powerful equipment, such as private branchexchanges, that has historically been connected to the public telephonenetworks. A related interface problem is the user interface. Individualsare accustomed to using the public telephone systems and generally storelarge collections of telephone numbers. Individuals who make longdistance and international calls are familiar with the proceduresrequired by their public telephone systems for making these calls. Usingpacket-based networks for telephony today, however, frequently requiresspecial procedures with which individuals may not be familiar. It iscostly and time consuming to train people to use these specialprocedures to access a packet-based system for their telephone calls,and similarly inconvenient to require special telephone numbers or othercodes to be used. It may also be difficult for individuals to determinewhen it is cost-effective to invoke the packet-based system and when itis not.

Use of packet-based network s for public telephone service has also beenfrustrated by access and billing difficulties. Public telephone networksgenerally have means for controlling the use of the networks so thatunauthorized users cannot make telephone calls. This is done by placingtelephones in secure locations (such as homes or offices), requiringpayment prior to use, or validating a payment mechanism such as a creditcard prior to network use. Packet-based networks, intended forcontrolled, non-public environments, generally lack many of these accesscontrol features.

Billing arrangements present a similar problem. Public telephone systemshave a wide range of mechanisms for measuring calls so that users can bebilled appropriately. To date, packet-based systems have generally hadno need for such call tracking mechanisms because they have been usedprimarily for internal telecommunications, where detailed accountingsmay not be required.

The usage measuring problem is exacerbated if the packet-based networkis used as a bridge between public telephone networks, since the publicnetworks will have direct control over both the call origination processand the contacting of the call destination, and full information on theoriginator, destination, duration, and length of the call, for example,would not normally be available to the packet-based network.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide low cost telecommunicationscalls to subscribers who do not have access to large privatetelecommunications systems.

A further object of the invention is to provide a system and method forestablishing a call telecommunications path from one telecommunicationssystem to another telecommunications system via a packet-basedtelecommunications system.

A further object of the invention is to provide a system and method forestablishing a call telecommunications path from an originatingtelecommunications system to a terminating telecommunications system viaa packet-based telecommunications system using the regular callestablishment formats of the originating and terminatingtelecommunications systems.

A further object of the invention is to provide a system and method fortransparent establishment of call telecommunications paths so thatsubscribers can use packet-based networks without modifying theircustomary behavior for establishing telecommunications calls.

A further object of the invention is to provide a system and method toprevent unauthorized entities from establishing call telecommunicationspaths through a packet-based network interconnected with a publictelecommunications network.

A further object of the invention is provide a system and method togenerate bills and usage records concerning the establishment of calltelecommunications paths by subscribers to a packet-based networkinterconnected with a public telecommunications network.

The present invention, as broadly described herein, provides a systemfor establishing a call telecommunications path including an originatingcall processor which is in communications with an originatingtelecommunications network and a packet-based network, a terminatingcall processor which is in communications with the packet-based networkand a public telecommunications network, and a means for establishing acall telecommunications path through the originating telecommunicationsnetwork and the packet-based network to a destination of the publictelecommunications network. The invention can provide a communicationspath between telecommunications networks via a packet-basedtelecommunications network that, by way of example, employs frame-relayor asynchronous transfer mode technologies.

As broadly described herein, the system of the present invention mayalso include means for subscribers to generate a code, which can, forexample, include a personal identification number and billingidentification number, which is necessary in order to establish a calltelecommunications path using the invention.

The present invention, as broadly described herein, also provides amethod for establishing a call telecommunications path, including thesteps of receiving a predetermined code from an originatingtelecommunications network into an originating call processor;identifying, based on all or a portion of the predetermined code, aterminating call processor; determining, based on the predeterminedcode, a destination code; transmitting the destination code from theoriginating call processor to a packet-based telecommunications network;receiving, into the terminating call processor, the destination codefrom the packet-based telecommunications network; converting thedestination code to a destination address associated with a destinationserved by a public telecommunications network; and establishing a callcommunications path through the originating telecommunications network,the packet-based telecommunications network, and the publictelecommunications network to the destination. As broadly describedherein, the method of the present invention may also include the stepsof generating the predetermined code in response to signals provided bya subscriber and transmitting the predetermined code to the originatingtelecommunications network.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention are set forth in partin the description which follows, and in part are obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectsand advantages of the invention may also be realized and attained bymeans of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly set out inthe appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute partof the specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention,and together with the description, serve to explain the principles ofthe invention.

FIG. 1 is a diagram depicting a preferred embodiment of a system of thepresent invention for establishing a call telecommunications path.

FIG. 2 is a diagram depicting a preferred embodiment of means forgenerating and transmitting a predetermined code for a system of thepresent invention for establishing a call telecommunications path.

FIG. 3 is a diagram depicting an example of a preferred embodiment of asystem of the present invention for establishing a calltelecommunications path.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart depicting a preferred embodiment of a method ofthe present invention for establishing a call telecommunications path.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart depicting a preferred embodiment of a method forconverting a predetermined code of a system of the present invention toa format required by a public switched network.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferredembodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate likeelements throughout the several views.

System for Routing a Telecommunications Call

FIG. 1 depicts a preferred embodiment of a system, comprising acombination of elements, for establishing a call telecommunicationspath. As depicted in FIG. 1, the system includes originating callprocessor 130 in communication with originating telecommunicationsnetwork 120 and packet-based telecommunications network 140, terminatingcall processor 150 in communication with packet-based telecommunicationsnetwork 140 and public telecommunications network 160, and means forestablishing a communications path from originating telecommunicationsnetwork 120 through packet-based telecommunications network 140 todestination 170 served by public telecommunications network 160. In apreferred embodiment not depicted in FIG. 1, the invention may includemore than one originating call processor and more than one terminatingcall processor.

In the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, originating callprocessor 130 has means for receiving a predetermined code fromoriginating telecommunications network 120. For example, thepredetermined code may be encoded using dual tone multifrequency pulsing(DTMF) as is done in touch tone telephones. Circuitry, as is known inthe art, in originating call processor 130 would capture the DTMFpulses. In a preferred embodiment, originating call processor 130 alsohas means, responsive to all or a portion of the predetermined code, foridentifying terminating call processor 150 and means for determining andtransmitting a destination code, based on the predetermined code, toterminating call processor 150 via packet-based telecommunicationsnetwork 140.

For example, terminating call processor 150 may have an assigned addresson packet-based telecommunications network 140. The identifying means oforiginating call processor 130, may, as is known in the art, use thepredetermined code received from originating telecommunications network120 as an index to a table which contains the assigned address ofterminating call processor 150, thus producing the assigned address. Thedetermining means of originating call processor 130 may then calculate adestination code based on the predetermined code, and create a packetaddressed to terminating call processor 150 containing the destinationcode which the transmitting means would then send to packet-basedtelecommunications network 140 for transport to terminating callprocessor 150.

In a preferred embodiment terminating call processor 150 has means forreceiving the destination code from packet-based telecommunicationsnetwork 140. The receiving means of terminating call processor 150 mayobtain packets from packet-based network 140 which are addressed toterminating call processor 150, including packets from originating callprocessor 130 which contained a destination code. Terminating callprocessor 150 preferably also has means for converting the destinationcode to a destination address associated with destination 170 served bypublic telecommunications network 160.

For example, the destination code may be the public telephone number,including area code, of destination 170. The converting means ofterminating call processor 150 may, for example, determine thatdestination 170 is a local call, via public telecommunications network160, and would therefore strip the area code from the destination codein order to produce the destination address.

Responsive to the destination address, the system of the presentinvention also has means for establishing a call telecommunications pathfrom originating telecommunications network 120, through packet-basedtelecommunications network 140 and public telecommunications network160, to destination 170 associated with the destination address.

In a preferred embodiment, the path establishment means may involve bothterminating call processor 150 and originating call processor 130. Forexample (a) terminating call processor 150 may dial destination 170 viapublic telecommunications network 160 using the destination address(e.g., the local telephone number of destination 170) and then maintainan open call path through public telecommunications network 160; (b)terminating call processor 150 may provide format conversions asrequired between public telecommunications network 160 and packet-basedtelecommunications network 140 so that the call path from publictelecommunications network 160 extends through terminating callprocessor 150 to packet-based telecommunications network 140; (c)terminating call processor 150 and originating call processor 130 mayextend the call path through packet-based telecommunications network 140by exchanging packets; (d) originating call processor 130 may provideformat conversions as required between packet-based telecommunicationsnetwork 140 and originating telecommunications network 120 so that thecall path from packet-based telecommunications network 140 extendsthrough originating call processor 130 to originating telecommunicationsnetwork 120; and (e) originating call processor 130 may maintain thecall path through originating telecommunications network 120 which wasestablished when originating call processor 130 received thepredetermined code from originating telecommunications network 120.

Originating Call Processor

In the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, originating callprocessor 130 is in communication with originating telecommunicationsnetwork 120 and packet-based telecommunications network 140. In apreferred embodiment, originating call processor 130 is a digitalcomputer dedicated to call processing functions. In other preferredembodiments, originating call processor 130 may be a general purposedigital computer, a special purpose call processor, or othercommunications processor as is known in the art.

In the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, originating callprocessor 130 provides a call communications path between originatingtelecommunications network 120 and packet-based telecommunicationsnetwork 140 by performing format conversions between the two networks.The methods for performing the format conversions are known in the art.In a preferred embodiment where originating call processor 130 providesa full duplex call telecommunications path, originating call processor130 packetizes continuous analog information received from originatingtelecommunications network 120 for output to packet-basedtelecommunications network 140, and converts packetized informationreceived from packet-based telecommunications network 140 to continuousanalog information for output to originating telecommunications network120.

Originating call processor 130 has means, which are known in the art,for receiving a predetermined code from originating telecommunicationsnetwork 120. For example, the predetermined code may be encoded usingdual tone multifrequency pulsing (DTMF) as is done in touch tonetelephones. Circuitry, as is known in the art, in originating callprocessor 130 would capture the DTMF pulses. In a preferred embodiment,the predetermined code includes a telephone number, formatted inaccordance with the standard public telephone number formattingconventions of the locality in which the predetermined code wasgenerated, that specifies a desired destination for a call. For example,to call Washington, D.C. local number 662-6000 from Los Angeles, thepublic telephone system would require entry of the digit "1" for a longdistance call followed by the digits "202" for the area code ofWashington, followed by the local number "662-6000." The predeterminedcode in this case would include the digits "12026626000." In anotherpreferred embodiment, the predetermined code includes a sequence ofcharacters, the sequence being selected in accordance with theformatting and call destination conventions of the dialing plan of aspecific telecommunications system. In another preferred embodiment, thepredetermined code includes a sequence of characters which has beenpredefined to specify a particular destination for a call.

In another preferred embodiment, the predetermined code has a formatthat is determined by the characteristics of the publictelecommunications network, the packet-based telecommunications network,and the originating telecommunications network. These characteristicsmay include, by way of example, dialing plans, addressing schemes andformatting conventions. In this preferred embodiment, the predeterminedcode may specify all or any portion of the path through which the callis to be routed, as is known in the art, within any of thetelecommunications networks traversed by the call telecommunicationspath.

In a preferred embodiment, the predetermined code includes personalidentification information for the person or device making the call,originating call processor 130 validates the personal identificationinformation by comparing it with a collection of valid, predeterminedpersonal identification information stored in a table, or through othertechniques which are known in the art. In a preferred embodiment,originating call processor 130 processes only those predetermined codesthat contain valid personal identification information. In an alternatepreferred embodiment, not depicted in FIG. 1, the originating callprocessor is also in communication with a monitoring system, and thepersonal identification information is passed to the monitoring systemby the originating call processor for validation.

In a preferred embodiment, the personal identification informationincludes a personal identification number ("PIN"). PINs may be assignedto persons, devices, or both. In another preferred embodiment, thepersonal identification information may include calling lineidentification information or other caller identification information asis known in the art.

The predetermined code, in a preferred embodiment, includes a billingidentification code which may be used to identify the entity to becharged for the call. Originating call processor 130 validates thebilling identification code by comparing it with a list of valid billingidentification codes stored in a table, or through other techniqueswhich are known in the art. In a preferred embodiment, originating callprocessor 130 processes only those predetermined codes that contain avalid billing identification code. In an alternate preferred embodiment,not depicted in FIG. 1, the originating call processor is also incommunication with a monitoring system and billing identification codesare passed to the monitoring system by the originating call processorfor validation and bill generation.

In the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG.1, originating callprocessor 130 has means for identifying a particular terminating callprocessor 150 based on all or a portion of the predetermined code. In apreferred embodiment, each terminating call processor 150 has an addresswhich is contained in a table which is stored within originating callprocessor 130. As is known in the art, the address of the selectedterminating call processor 150 is obtained from the table by deriving anindex to the table, the index being based on all or a portion of thepredetermined code. In another preferred embodiment, the address of theselected terminating call processor 150 is obtained by applying aspecified algorithm to all or a portion of the predetermined code.

Originating call processor 130 also has means for determining andtransmitting a destination code, based on the predetermined code, topacket-based telecommunications network 140 for delivery to the selectedterminating call processor 150. In a preferred embodiment, thedetermining means of originating call processor 130 calculates adestination code based on the predetermined code in accordance with aspecified algorithm and creates a packet addressed to terminating callprocessor 150 which contains the destination code. The transmittingmeans of originating call processor 130 then sends the packet topacket-based telecommunications network 140 for transport to terminatingcall processor 150.

In a preferred embodiment, the destination code includes all or part ofa telephone number, formatted in accordance with the standard publictelephone number formatting conventions of the locality in which thepredetermined code was generated, that specifies a desired destinationfor the call. For example, in the case of the Los Angeles to Washington,D.C. call discussed above, the predetermined code included the telephonenumber "12026626000." The destination code derived from thispredetermined code may only include the digits "2026626000," since theleading "1" merely signals originating telecommunications network 120that the call is not local and may not be necessary for furtherprocessing in the terminating call processor. In another preferredembodiment, the destination code includes all or part of a sequence ofcharacters, the sequence being selected in accordance with theformatting and call destination conventions of the dialing plan of aspecific telecommunications system. In another preferred embodiment, thedestination code includes all or part of a sequence of characters whichhas been predefined to specify a particular destination for the call.

In a preferred embodiment not depicted in FIG. 1, communications ineither direction between the originating call processor and theoriginating telecommunications network are amplified and conditionedthrough the use of an amplifying means. This amplifying means mayinclude a dedicated telecommunications amplifier, PBX, amplification andline conditioning equipment, or other amplification and lineconditioning equipment as is known in the art.

In the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, originating callprocessor 130 is in communication with originating telecommunicationsnetwork 120. In preferred embodiments, originating call processor 130 isable to communicate with originating telecommunications networks 120that include public switched telephone networks, private switchedtelephone networks, private branch exchanges (PBXs), packet-basednetworks, or other networks for the transmission of voice, fax,store-and-forward voice, store-and-forward fax, video, data, and othertelecommunications modes and services, as are known in the art. In apreferred embodiment, originating telecommunications network 120recognizes originating call processor 130 as a long distance carrier andautomatically routes certain long distance calls to originating callprocessor 130.

In preferred embodiments not depicted in FIG. 1, the originating callprocessor is able to communicate with originating telecommunicationsnetworks that include direct hard-wired connections to the originatingcall processor, dedicated leased lines, or other non-switchedcommunications facilities which are known in the art.

In the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, originatingtelecommunications network 120 is also in communications with customeroriginating equipment 210. In this preferred embodiment, originatingtelecommunications network 120 provides a call communications pathbetween customer originating equipment 210 and originating callprocessor 130 (not depicted in FIG. 2). Customer originating equipment210 will be discussed in greater detail below.

In the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, originating callprocessor 130 and terminating call processor 150 are in communicationwith packet-based telecommunications network 140. In preferredembodiments, originating call processor 130 and terminating callprocessor 150 are able to communicate with packet-basedtelecommunications networks 140 that include frame-relay ("FR")networks, asynchronous transfer mode ("ATM") networks, otherpacket-based networks as are known to the art, or combinations ofnetworks which include a packet-based network. In a preferredembodiment, packet-based telecommunications network 140 providesconnectivity between all of the originating call processors and all ofthe terminating call processor which are in communication withpacket-based telecommunications network 140, thus enabling anyoriginating call processor to communicate with any selected terminatingcall processor. In an alternative embodiment, the packet-basedtelecommunications network provides connectivity between only certaindesignated combinations of originating call processors and terminatingcall processors. In the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 1,packet-based telecommunications network 140 provides a callcommunications path between originating call processor 130 andterminating call processor 150. In a preferred embodiment, the maximumtransit time of packets through the packet-based telecommunicationsnetwork is approximately 400 milliseconds.

In a preferred embodiment, the packet-based telecommunications networkcommunicates voice information by transmitting the voice informationusing frame relay protocols superimposed on an ATM network. The directtransmission of voice over ATM networks may result in degraded qualitydue to the characteristics of the ATM protocols. This degradation may befully or substantially avoided by transmitting voice via frame relayprotocols which are in turn transported by an underlying ATM network.

Terminating Call Processor

In the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, terminating callprocessor 150 is in communication with packet-based telecommunicationsnetwork 140 and public telecommunications network 160. In a preferredembodiment, terminating call processor 150 is a digital computerdedicated to call processing functions. In other preferred embodiments,terminating call processor 150 is a general purpose digital computer, aspecial purpose call processor, or other communications processor as isknown in the art. In a preferred embodiment not depicted in FIG. 1, theterminating call processor and the originating call processor areembodied in the same equipment thus permitting, for example, thesimultaneous processing of originating and terminating calls by a singleapparatus.

In the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, terminating callprocessor 150 provides a call communications path between packet-basedtelecommunications network 140 and public telecommunications network 160by performing format conversions between the two networks as is known inthe art. In a preferred embodiment where terminating call processor 150provides a full duplex call telecommunications path, terminating callprocessor 150 converts packetized information received from packet-basedtelecommunications network 140 to continuous analog information foroutput to public telecommunications network 160, and packetizescontinuous analog information received from public telecommunicationsnetwork 160 for output to packet-based telecommunications network 140.

Terminating call processor 150 has means, which are known in the art,for receiving the destination code from packet-based telecommunicationsnetwork 140. For example, these receiving means may obtain a packet frompacket-based telecommunications network 140 which is addressed toterminating call processor 150 and which contains the destination code.

Terminating call processor 150 also has means for converting thedestination code to a destination address associated with destination170 served by public telecommunications network 160. In a preferredembodiment, the format of the destination address is determined by thecharacteristics of the public telecommunications network. Continuing theexample discussed above, the destination may be a business telephonewith phone number (202) 662-6000 located in Washington, D.C., which isserved by a local public switched telephone network ("PSTN"), with theterminating call processor also being connected to the same local PSTN.The business telephone, local PSTN, and terminating call processor ofthe example correspond to destination 170, public telecommunicationsnetwork 160, and terminating call processor 150 of FIG. 1, respectively.Continuing the example, terminating call processor 150 receives adestination code containing the number "2026626000." In this example,terminating call processor 150 examines this number and determines thatthe destination can be contacted via the PSTN as a local call (from theterminating call processor), and further, determines whether terminatingcall processor 150 and destination 170 are within the same area code andif so, strips the "202" digits from the number (since these digits areused for calls to a different area code than that of terminating callprocessor 150), thus generating the destination address, and initiates acall to the destination via the PSTN using the remainder of thedestination code (in this example "6626000").

In a preferred embodiment, the method used by terminating callprocessors located in the United States to convert portions of thepredetermined code to formats required by the public switched telephonenetworks in communication with those processors is depicted in FIG. 5.Beginning with obtain area code and local number step 510 of FIG. 5, thedestination code is processed to obtain the destination's area code andlocal telephone number. "1" required? step 515 then determines ifcalling conventions of the public telecommunications network requirethat a "1" precede the destination telephone number in order to use thepublic telecommunications network to call from the terminating callprocessor to the destination.

If a "1" is required, then a further determination is made, in area coderequired? step 520, if calling conventions of the publictelecommunications network require that the area code precede thedestination local number in order to use the public telecommunicationsnetwork to call from the terminating call processor to the destination.If the area code is required, as depicted in destination address=1+areacode+local number step 525, the destination address is the local numberpreceded by a "1" and the area code. If the area code is not required,as depicted in destination address=1+local number step 530, thedestination address is the local number preceded by a "1".

If a "1" is not required, then a further determination is made, in areacode required? step 535, if calling conventions of the publictelecommunications network require that the area code precede thedestination local number in order to use the public telecommunicationsnetwork to call from the terminating call processor to the destination.If the area code is required, as depicted in destination address=areacode+local number step 540, the destination address is the local numberpreceded by the area code. If the area code is not required, as depictedin destination address=local number step 545, the destination address isthe local number.

As is known in the art, this algorithm can be modified appropriately forembodiments of the invention which are used as dialing requirementschange in a particular locality, which are located in other countries,or which communicate with public telecommunications networks withdialing plans different from those used by the United States PSTNs.

In a preferred embodiment not depicted in FIG. 1, echoes occurring incommunications in either direction between the terminating callprocessor and the public telecommunications network are suppressedthrough the use of echo suppressing means as is known in the art. In apreferred embodiment, this echo suppressing means consists of commercialecho suppressing equipment which provides echo suppression periods ofbetween approximately eight and approximately sixty-four milliseconds.In the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, terminating callprocessor 150 is in communications with public telecommunicationsnetwork 160, which serves one or more destinations 170. In preferredembodiments, terminating call processor 150 is able to communicate withpublic telecommunications networks 160 that may include PSTNs, privateswitched telephone networks, PBXs, and other switched networks withdialing plans for the transmission of voice, fax, store-and-forwardvoice, store-and-forward fax, video, data and other telecommunicationsmodes and services, as are known in the art.

Communications Paths

In the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, a calltelecommunications path is established, responsive to the destinationaddress, through originating telecommunications network 120, originatingcall processor 130, packet-based telecommunications network 140,terminating call processor 150, and public telecommunications network160 to destination 170. A call path can be established using anytechnology or combination of technologies known in the art forestablishing call telecommunications paths. In preferred embodiments,call telecommunications paths include voice, fax, store-and-forwardvoice, store-and-forward fax, data, video, and other telecommunicationsmodes and services. In an alternate preferred embodiment not shown inFIG. 1, the call telecommunications path is established, responsive tothe destination address, through the originating telecommunicationsnetwork, the packet-based telecommunications network, and the publictelecommunications network, but not through the originating callprocessor or the terminating call processor.

In another preferred embodiment not depicted in FIG. 1, means areprovided for monitoring the status of call communications paths and,responsive to information derived from the status monitoring means, forderiving billing information for each telecommunications call. Thesemonitoring and billing means are provided using technologies which areknown to the art. For example, a monitoring computer in communicationswith both the originating and the terminating call processors mayreceive a message from the originating call processor noting the timeeach predetermined code is received, the time the call path isestablished, and the time the call is terminated. The monitoringcomputer may receive similar information from the terminating callprocessor for each call, including event information such as the failureof the destination to answer the call, the time the destination answeredthe call, and the time the destination terminated the call. For eachpredetermined code which led to the successful establishment of a callpath, the monitoring computer may generate an accounting and a bill,based on the duration of the call and other information, for the entityidentified in the predetermined code by a personal identification numberor a billing identification.

In another preferred embodiment not depicted in FIG. 1, means areprovided for optimizing routing. In a preferred embodiment of the meansfor optimizing routing, status messages are exchanged, as is known inthe art, between some or all of the originating call processors andterminating call processors within a system of the present invention.The status messages may include information on the capacity,performance, operational status, and available routes of the originatingcall processors, the terminating call processors, and thetelecommunications networks connected to those call processors. Based onthe contents of the status messages, the originating and terminatingcall processors may, as is known in the art, route calltelecommunications paths through the telecommunications networksassociated with the call processors according to various optimizationalternatives as are known in the art.

In a preferred embodiment, the means for identifying the terminatingcall processor is responsive to the means for optimizing routing. By wayof example, two terminating call processors may be connected to the samedestination via two different public telecommunications networks. Anoriginating call processor, based on the status messages from the twoterminating call processors, may choose to route calls to thedestination via the terminating call processor providing the lowest costpath, the path with the shortest time delays, or in accordance withother optimization criteria. In an alternative preferred embodiment ofthe means for optimizing routing, the call processors may send statusmessages to a central status monitoring computer. The central statusmonitoring computer may then provide optimal routing information to theoriginating and terminating call processors as is known in the art. Inother preferred embodiments, other methods for optimizing routing may beemployed as is known in the art.

Customer Originating Equipment

In the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, customer originatingequipment 210 includes means, which are responsive to a sequence ofsignals from a call originator, for generating the predetermined code.In this preferred embodiment the generating means is generatingequipment 220 and includes telephone 240 and autodialer 250. In otherpreferred embodiments, the generating means may be, alone or incombination, a telephone, facsimile machine, modem, keypad, computer,PBX, autodialer, or other device as is know in the art for initiatingand conducting telecommunications calls. In the preferred embodimentdepicted in FIG. 2, customer originating equipment 210 also includesmeans for transmitting the predetermined code from the generating meansto originating telecommunications network 120. In this preferredembodiment the transmitting means is transmitting equipment 230 andincludes cellular telephone system 260. In other preferred embodiments,the transmitting means may include wire, radio, cellular telephone,fiber optic, satellite telecommunications, or other systems orcombinations of systems, as are known in the art for transmittingtelecommunications signals.

Two examples illustrate the use of generating means in combination withtransmitting means of customer originating equipment 210. If thegenerating means consists of a telephone, the transmitting means istransmitting equipment associated with the telephone, and theoriginating telecommunications network is a leased telecommunicationsfacility directly connected to the originating call processor, then thepredetermined code can be made available to the originating callprocessor from the originating telecommunications network by enteringthe predetermined code on the telephone's keypad.

In a more complex case, the generating means may be a telephone incombination with an autodialer, the transmitting means may betransmitting equipment associated with the autodialer, and theoriginating telecommunications network may be a PSTN. Since a PSTN isinvolved, a connection from the telephone and autodialer through thePSTN to the originating call processor must be established before thepredetermined code can be passed to the PSTN. The autodialer canautomatically set up this connection in response to the entry of aspecific sequence of signals on the telephone's keypad. Further, theautodialer can also create a complex predetermined code in response tosuch a specific sequence of signals and automatically communicate thepredetermined code to the PSTN. If the specific sequence of signals isidentical to the normal PSTN telephone number of the destination, then auser can make calls to the destination through this invention byfollowing the same procedures as if the user was calling the destinationdirectly through the PSTN.

A Comprehensive Example

The following is a detailed example of the operation of the invention asdepicted in a preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 3. Apparatus locatedin Hong Kong embodies both originating call processor 130 andterminating call processor 150. Similar apparatus is located in Bostonand in Tokyo. The combined originating call processor 130/terminatingcall processor 150 in each of these cities is in communication with acommercial international frame-relay network (corresponding topacket-based telecommunications network 140). Monitoring system 310 isalso in communication with packet-based telecommunications network 140.

The combined originating call processor 130/terminating call processor150 in Hong Kong is in communication with the Hong Kong public switchedtelephone network ("PSTN"), and can be contacted via the Hong Kong PSTNat 2593 7816. The Hong Kong PSTN is both originating telecommunicationsnetwork 130 and public telecommunications network 160. One destination170 on the Hong Kong PSTN has Hong Kong telephone number 2594 0314. Atthe location corresponding to 2594 0314 is customer originatingequipment 210 including generating equipment 220 and transmittingequipment 230. Customer originating equipment 210 at the locationcorresponding to 2594 0314 includes telephone 240 and autodialer 250.

The combined originating call processor 130/terminating call processor150 in Boston is in communication with the United States PSTN and can becontacted via the United States PSTN at a Boston telephone number. TheUnited States PSTN is both originating telecommunications network 130and public telecommunications network 160. One destination 170 on theUnited States PSTN has a Boston telephone number. At this Bostontelephone number is customer originating equipment 210. Anotherdestination 170 on the United States PSTN has the Washington, D.C.telephone number (202) 662-6000. At this Washington, D.C. telephonenumber is also customer originating equipment 210.

The combined originating call processor 130/terminating call processor150 in Tokyo is in communication with the Japan PSTN and can becontacted via the Japan PSTN at a Tokyo telephone number. The Japan PSTNis both originating telecommunications network 130 and publictelecommunications network 160. One destination 170 on the Japan PSTNhas a Tokyo telephone number. At this Tokyo telephone number is customeroriginating equipment 210. The combined originating call processor130/terminating call processor 150 in Tokyo is also in communicationwith a privately-owned telecommunications network. This privately-ownedtelecommunications network is also originating telecommunicationsnetwork 120 and is in communications with customer originating equipment210.

The following describes the exemplary operation of the invention in thecontext of a voice call from a customer in Hong Kong to a telephone atdestination 170 in Washington, D.C. The telephone number of destination170 in Washington, D.C., as it would have to be dialed in Hong Kongusing the Hong Kong PSTN, and without the use of the invention, is 001 1202 662 6000.

1. The customer in Hong Kong takes telephone 240 off-hook and dials theinternational phone number, 001 1 202 662 6000, of a telephone atdestination 170 in Washington D.C. The Hong Kong customer dials just asif he was making a normal international call using the local Hong KongPSTN.

2. Autodialer 250 recognizes the pattern dialed, i.e. 001 1 202 6626000, as a call which should be routed through a system of the presentinvention rather than public international telephone channels. Thisrecognition may be done by comparing the pattern dialed with a set ofpatterns stored in a routing table within the autodialer.

3. When autodialer 250 recognizes a call which should be routed througha system of the present invention, the autodialer will dial a localtelephone number, for example 2593 7816, through the Hong Kong PSTN thatterminates at Hong Kong originating call processor 130/terminating callprocessor 150.

4. Hong Kong originating call processor 130 will answer the call andprovide a second dial tone to autodialer 250.

5. When autodialer 250 recognizes the second dial tone, it will send apredetermined code to Hong Kong originating call processor 130 via DTMF.The predetermined code will comprise a Personal Identification Number("PIN"), the International Access Code, the Country Code, the Area Code,and the Local Number. The International Access Code, Country Code, AreaCode and Local Number will all have been obtained from the customer byautodialer 250 when the customer dialed the international phone numberfor Washington D.C. destination 170. The PIN will be a number stored inautodialer 250. In this example, with a PIN of "12345", thepredetermined code will be "1234500112026626000". In an alternateembodiment which would require some additional operations by thecustomer, the customer could also provide the PIN to the autodialer.

6. Hong Kong originating call processor 130 will extract the PIN,"12345", from the predetermined code "1234500112026626000", resulting in"001120266260001" and compare the PIN to a table of valid PINs. If thePIN is not valid then the call is dropped. If the PIN is valid thenprocessing continues and information concerning this call is sent fromHong Kong originating call processor 130 to monitoring system 310 viapacket-based telecommunications network 140. Monitoring system 310generates a record of the call. In a preferred embodiment, the customermay be required to enter the digits from a credit card so that themonitoring system can bill the credit card for the cost of the call.

7. Continuing to process the predetermined code, Hong Kong originatingcall processor 130 strips off the International Access Code, resultingin "12026626000", and determines the appropriate terminating callprocessor 150 to which to route the call. This determination is based onthe country and city codes contained in the predetermined code, i.e."1202", and may be performed by using all or a portion of the countryand area codes as indexes to a table listing the available terminatingcall processors. Boston terminating call processor 150 is selected.

8. The destination code "2026626000", which includes the Area Code andthe Local Number, is transmitted to Boston terminating call processor150 via packet-switched network 140.

9. Boston terminating call processor 150 reformats the Area Code andLocal Number to meet the requirements of the United States PSTN (servinghere as public telecommunications network 160), producing thedestination address. In this case, terminating call processor 150 islocated in Boston but destination 170 is in Washington, D.C. Thisrequires a long distance call by Boston terminating call processor 150through the United States PSTN to Washington D.C. destination 170. A "1"is therefore added to the front of the Area Code and Local Numbersequence by Boston terminating call processor 150 as required by UnitedStates long distance calling conventions, resulting in destinationaddress "12026626000".

10. Boston terminating call processor 150 goes off-hook with the UnitedStates PSTN and sends out destination address dial digits "12026626000"as determined in the previous step to initiate the long distance call todestination 170 in Washington, D.C.

11. If the call to the destination by Boston terminating call processor150 cannot be completed then the initiating call from Hong Kong isdropped. If the call to the destination is completed, then a voice pathis provided from the Hong Kong telephone through the Hong Kong PSTN,Hong Kong originating call processor 130, packet-basedtelecommunications network 140, Boston terminating call processor 150,and the United States PSTN, to the destination 170. This completes theestablishment of a call telecommunications path from Hong Kong toWashington, D.C.

12. Monitoring system 310 receives call status information from HongKong originating call processor 130 and Boston terminating callprocessor 150, via packet-based telecommunications network 140.Monitoring system 310 records the call status information, including theduration, and produces a bill.

Method for Establishing a Call Telecommunications Path

FIG. 4 depicts a flow chart of a preferred embodiment of a method forestablishing a call telecommunications path. The method includes thesteps of receiving a predetermined code from an originatingtelecommunications network into an originating call processor;identifying, based on all or a portion of the predetermined code, aterminating call processor; determining a destination code, based on thepredetermined code; transmitting the destination code to the terminatingcall processor via a packet-based telecommunications network; receivingthe destination code into the terminating call processor from thepacket-based network; converting the destination code into a destinationaddress associated with a destination served by a publictelecommunications network; and establishing a communications path,based on the destination address, from the originatingtelecommunications network to the destination via the packet-basedtelecommunications network and the public telecommunications network.

In the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, the predetermined codereceiving step is accomplished by input telephone number step 410. Asdiscussed in reference to FIG. 1, originating call processor 130 whichis in communication with originating telecommunications network 120would input a predetermined code from originating telecommunicationsnetwork 120 using techniques which are well known in the art. In thepreferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, the predetermined code is atelephone number. As discussed above, in other preferred embodiments,the predetermined code may be a telephone number formatted in accordancewith requirements of the originating telecommunications network, asequence of characters selected in accordance with the formattingconventions of the dialing plan of a specific telecommunication system,or a sequence of characters predefined to specify a particulardestination. As is also discussed above, the format of the predeterminedcode may be determined by the characteristics of the publictelecommunications network, the packet-based telecommunications network,and the originating telecommunications network. Also, in other preferredembodiments, the predetermined code may include personal identificationinformation and/or a billing identification code. In preferredembodiments, the personal identification information may include apersonal identification number, calling line identification information,or other caller identification information as is known in the art.

In the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, the identifying step isaccomplished by identify a terminating call processor step 420. Asdiscussed in reference to FIG. 1, originating call processor 130 woulduse all or a portion of the predetermined code as an index to a table ofterminating call processors, or other techniques known to the art, toidentify an appropriate terminating call processor. In the preferredembodiment depicted in FIG. 4 the telephone number, by way of example,would contain an area code. A table of terminating call processors wouldassociate each terminating call processor with one or more area codes.In this example, indexing the table by the area code contained in thetelephone number would identify the terminating call processor to whichthe call should be directed. In other preferred embodiments techniquesknown to the art would be used to identify the appropriate terminatingcall processor from the predetermined code.

In the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, the determining step isaccomplished by select a portion of the telephone number step 430. Asdiscussed in reference to FIG. 1, a specified algorithm may be used tocalculate a destination code based on the predetermined code. In thepreferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, the originating call processorwould determine the portion of the telephone number which theterminating call processor requires in order to identify thedestination. The result of this determination is the destination code.

In the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, the transmitting step isaccomplished by transmit portion of the telephone number step 440. Asdiscussed in reference to FIG. 1, originating call processor 130 andterminating call processor 150 are in communication with packet-basedtelecommunications network 140, and originating call processor 130 wouldtransmit the destination code to packet-based telecommunications network140 for delivery to terminating call processor 150 using techniqueswhich are known in the art. In the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG.4, the destination code, calculated in the previous step, is transmittedto the terminating call processor via the packet-basedtelecommunications network. As also discussed in reference to FIG. 1,packet-based telecommunications network 140, in alternative preferredembodiments, comprises a frame-relay network, an asynchronous transfermode network, or another network technology as is known in the art whichis fully or partially packet-based. As discussed above, in a preferredembodiment, the packet-based telecommunications network communicatesvoice information by transmitting the voice information using framerelay protocols superimposed on an asynchronous transfer mode network.

In the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, the destination codereceiving step is accomplished by receive portion of the telephonenumber step 450. As discussed above and in reference to FIG. 1,terminating call processor 150 is in communication with packet-basedtelecommunications network 140 and would receive the destination codefrom packet-based telecommunications network 140 using techniques whichare known in the art. In the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 4,the portion of the telephone number which was transmitted duringtransmit portion of telephone number step 440 would be received inreceive portion of the telephone number step 450.

In the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, the converting step isaccomplished by convert received portion of telephone number step 460.As discussed in reference to FIG. 1 above, the destination code receivedby terminating call processor 150 is converted into a destinationaddress associated with destination 170 served by publictelecommunications network 160. In the preferred embodiment depicted inFIG. 4, the received portion of the telephone number is formatted inaccordance with the requirements of a public telecommunications networkwhich serves both the destination and the terminating call processor.This formatted telephone number is the destination address which can beused by the terminating call processor to contact the destinationthrough the public telecommunications network. By way of example, in theUnited States, if a long distance call is required by the publictelecommunications network in order for the terminating call processorto contact the destination, then the dialing sequence, i.e. thedestination address, would include a "1" followed by the area code andlocal number. On the other hand, if a local call is required by thepublic telecommunications network in order for the terminating callprocessor to contact the destination, then the dialing sequence, i.e.the destination address, may or may not require the area code but wouldrequire the local number. As discussed in reference to FIG. 1 above, theconversion would be implemented through the use of tables or othertechniques known to the art.

In the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, the establishing step isaccomplished by establish communication path step 470. As discussed inreference to FIG. 1 above, destination 170 is contacted through the useof the destination address and a call communications path is establishedfrom originating telecommunications network 120 to destination 170 viapacket-based telecommunications network 140 and publictelecommunications network 160. In the preferred embodiment depicted inFIG. 4, the terminating call processor uses the destination address todial the destination via the public telecommunications network. Afterthe destination is contacted, the call communications path from theoriginating telecommunications network to the destination is establishedusing techniques known in the art.

In a preferred embodiment not depicted in FIG. 4, the method forestablishing a call telecommunications path further includes the step ofoptimizing routing. In a preferred embodiment, the step of identifying aterminating call processor is responsive to the step of optimizingrouting. As discussed above, the step of optimizing routing may beaccomplished by performing routing in response to status messages passedbetween originating call processors and terminating call processors, byperforming routing in response to status messages sent to a centralstatus monitoring computer, or by performing routing by other means asare known in the art.

In a preferred embodiment not depicted in FIG. 4, the establishing stepfurther comprises the steps of monitoring the status of thecommunications path and deriving billing information from thatmonitoring. As discussed in reference to FIG. 1 above, a variety oftechniques known in the art for monitoring communications paths andderiving billing information may be used.

In a preferred embodiment not depicted in FIG. 4, the method forestablishing a call telecommunications path further includes the stepsof generating the predetermined code in response to a sequence ofsymbols from a call originator, and of transmitting the predeterminedcode to the originating telecommunications network. As discussed inreference to FIG. 2, a variety of techniques are available generatingthe predetermined code. These include, by way of example, telephones,PBXs, autodialers, and other methods known to the art. Also as discussedin reference to FIG. 2, a variety of techniques are available fortransmitting the predetermined code to originating telecommunicationsnetwork 120. These include, by way of example, wire, radio, fiberoptics, satellites, and other methods known to the art.

In a preferred embodiment not depicted in FIG. 4, the predetermined codeincludes billing identification and the method of establishing a calltelecommunications path further includes the step of validating thebilling identification. As discussed in reference to FIG. 1, a varietyof techniques are known in the art for validating billing identificationincluding, by way of example, comparing the billing identificationincluded in the predetermined code with a table containing valid billingidentifications.

In a preferred embodiment not depicted in FIG. 4, the method forestablishing a call telecommunications path includes the additional stepof amplifying communications received from or transmitted to theoriginating telecommunications network. As discussed above, theamplifying means may include, by way of example, telecommunicationsamplifiers, PBXs, and other methods known to the art.

In a preferred embodiment not depicted in FIG. 4, the method forestablishing a call telecommunications path includes the additional stepof suppressing echoes generated or occurring on the telecommunicationspath, and particularly of suppressing echoes on communications receivedor transmitted to the public telecommunications network. As discussedabove, the echo suppressing means may include commercial echosuppressors or other methods known to the art. It will be apparent tothose skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to thisinvention of a system and method for establishing a calltelecommunications path, without departing from the scope or spirit ofthe invention. It is also intended that the present invention covermodifications and variations of the system and method for establishingcall telecommunications paths within the scope of the appended claimsand their equivalents.

We claim:
 1. A system for establishing a call telecommunications path,comprising:a terminating call processor, in communication with apacket-based telecommunications network and a public telecommunicationsnetwork, havingmeans for receiving a destination code from thepacket-based telecommunications network, and means for converting thedestination code to a destination address associated with a destinationserved by the public telecommunications network; an originating callprocessor, in communication with an originating telecommunicationsnetwork and the packet-based telecommunications network, havingmeans forreceiving a predetermined code from the originating telecommunicationsnetwork, means, responsive to a preselected portion of the predeterminedcode, for identifying the terminating call processor, means, responsiveto the predetermined code, for determining the destination code, andmeans for transmitting the destination code to the packet-basedtelecommunications network; and means, responsive to the destinationaddress, for establishing a call telecommunications path, through theoriginating telecommunications network, the packet-basedtelecommunications network, and the public telecommunications network,to the destination; wherein the packet-based network comprises a framerelay ("FR") network.
 2. A system for establishing a calltelecommunications path, comprising:a terminating call processor, incommunication with a packet-based telecommunications network and apublic telecommunications network, havingmeans for receiving adestination code from the packet-based telecommunications network, andmeans for converting the destination code to a destination addressassociated with a destination served by the public telecommunicationsnetwork; an originating call processor, in communication with anoriginating telecommunications network and the packet-basedtelecommunications network, havingmeans for receiving a predeterminedcode from the originating telecommunications network, means, responsiveto a preselected portion of the predetermined code, for identifying theterminating call processor, means, responsive to the predetermined code,for determining the destination code, and means for transmitting thedestination code to the packet-based telecommunications network; andmeans, responsive to the destination address, for establishing a calltelecommunications path, through the originating telecommunicationsnetwork, the packet-based telecommunications network, and the publictelecommunications network, to the destination; wherein the packet-basednetwork comprises an asynchronous transfer mode ("ATM") network.
 3. Thesystem as set forth in claim 2, wherein the packet-based networkcommunicates voice information by transmitting the voice informationusing frame relay protocols superimposed on an asynchronous transfermode ("ATM") network.
 4. A system for establishing a calltelecommunications path, comprising:a terminating call processor, incommunication with a packet-based telecommunications network and apublic telecommunications network, havingmeans for receiving adestination code from the packet-based telecommunications network, andmeans for converting the destination code to a destination addressassociated with a destination served by the public telecommunicationsnetwork; an originating call processor, in communication with anoriginating telecommunications network and the packet-basedtelecommunications network, havingmeans for receiving a predeterminedcode from the originating telecommunications network, means, responsiveto a preselected portion of the predetermined code, for identifying theterminating call processor, means, responsive to the predetermined code,for determining the destination code, and means for transmitting thedestination code to the packet-based telecommunications network; andmeans, responsive to the destination address, for establishing a calltelecommunications path, through the originating telecommunicationsnetwork, the packet-based telecommunications network, and the publictelecommunications network, to the destination; wherein thepredetermined code includes personal identification information andwherein the personal identification information includes calling lineidentification information.
 5. A system for establishing a calltelecommunications path, comprising:a terminating call processor, incommunication with a packet-based telecommunications network and apublic telecommunications network, havingmeans for receiving adestination code from the packet-based telecommunications network, andmeans for converting the destination code to a destination addressassociated with a destination served by the public telecommunicationsnetwork; an originating call processor, in communication with anoriginating telecommunications network and the packet-basedtelecommunications network, havingmeans for receiving a predeterminedcode from the originating telecommunications network, means, responsiveto a preselected portion of the predetermined code, for identifying theterminating call processor, means, responsive to the predetermined code,for determining the destination code, and means for transmitting thedestination code to the packet-based telecommunications network; means,responsive to the destination address, for establishing a calltelecommunications path, through the originating telecommunicationsnetwork, the packet-based telecommunications network, and the publictelecommunications network, to the destination; and means for optimizingrouting.
 6. The system as set forth in claim 5, wherein the means foroptimizing routing comprises an exchange of status messages between theoriginating call processor and the terminating call processor.
 7. Thesystem as set forth in claim 5, wherein the means for identifying theterminating call processor is responsive to the means for optimizingrouting.
 8. A method for establishing a call telecommunications path,comprising the steps of:receiving into an originating call processor apredetermined code from an originating telecommunications network;identifying, responsive to a preselected portion of the predeterminedcode, a terminating call processor; determining, responsive to thepredetermined code, a destination code; transmitting the destinationcode from the originating call processor to a packet-basedtelecommunications network; receiving, using the terminating callprocessor, the destination code from the packet-based telecommunicationsnetwork; converting the destination code obtained from the receivingstep to a destination address associated with a destination served by apublic telecommunications network; and establishing a calltelecommunications path, responsive to the destination address, throughthe originating telecommunications network, the packet-based network,and the public telecommunications network to the destination; whereinthe packet-based telecommunications network comprises a frame relay("FR") network.
 9. A method for establishing a call telecommunicationspath, comprising the steps of:receiving into an originating callprocessor a predetermined code from an originating telecommunicationsnetwork; identifying, responsive to a preselected portion of thepredetermined code, a terminating call processor; determining,responsive to the predetermined code, a destination code; transmittingthe destination code from the originating call processor to apacket-based telecommunications network; receiving, using theterminating call processor, the destination code from the packet-basedtelecommunications network; converting the destination code obtainedfrom the receiving step to a destination address associated with adestination served by a public telecommunications network; andestablishing a call telecommunications path, responsive to thedestination address, through the originating telecommunications network,the packet-based network, and the public telecommunications network tothe destination; wherein the packet-based network comprises anasynchronous transfer mode ("ATM") network.
 10. The method as set forthin claim 9, wherein the packet-based network communicates voiceinformation by transmitting the voice information using frame relayprotocols superimposed on an asynchronous transfer mode ("ATM") network.11. A method for establishing a call telecommunications path, comprisingthe steps of:receiving into an originating call processor apredetermined code from an originating telecommunications network;identifying, responsive to a preselected portion of the predeterminedcode, a terminating call processor; determining, responsive to thepredetermined code, a destination code; transmitting the destinationcode from the originating call processor to a packet-basedtelecommunications network; receiving, using the terminating callprocessor, the destination code from the packet-based telecommunicationsnetwork; converting the destination code obtained from the receivingstep to a destination address associated with a destination served by apublic telecommunications network; and establishing a calltelecommunications path, responsive to the destination address, throughthe originating telecommunications network, the packet-based network,and the public telecommunications network to the destination; whereinthe predetermined code includes personal identification information andwherein the personal identification information includes calling lineidentification information.
 12. A method for establishing a calltelecommunications path, comprising the steps of:receiving into anoriginating call processor a predetermined code from an originatingtelecommunications network; identifying, responsive to a preselectedportion of the predetermined code, a terminating call processor;determining, responsive to the predetermined code, a destination code;transmitting the destination code from the originating call processor toa packet-based telecommunications network; receiving, using theterminating call processor, the destination code from the packet-basedtelecommunications network; converting the destination code obtainedfrom the receiving step to a destination address associated with adestination served by a public telecommunications network; establishinga call telecommunications path, responsive to the destination address,through the originating telecommunications network, the packet-basednetwork, and the public telecommunications network to the destination;and optimizing routing.
 13. The method as set forth in claim 12, whereinthe step of optimizing routing comprises an exchange of status messagesbetween the originating call processor and the terminating callprocessor.
 14. The method as set forth in claim 12, wherein the step ofidentifying a terminating call processor is responsive to the step ofoptimizing routing.